Friday, October 26, 2012

NBA Player Goes on Heartbreaking Twitter Rant After Suspension

NBA player Delonte West, who has been diagnosed as bipolar, went on an alternately bizarre, bitter and heartbreaking Twitter rant Thursday after being suspended by the Dallas Mavericks.

West was suspended indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team,” according to a sparsely worded statement by team president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson on Thursday morning. The Mavericks plan to waive West permanently within the next few days, the Dallas Morning-News reported that afternoon.

West told ESPNDallas.com that he was being unfairly blamed for an altercation between teammates that he was not involved in following an exhibition game loss on Wednesday night, and that he was told via text message not to show up for practice the next day.

After the suspension was announced Thursday morning, he took to his Twitter page to post a string of emotional messages that appeared to be directed at the Mavericks, including:

The tweets expressed a vulnerability not often seen by a professional athlete in any forum, let alone social media. They took on added significance â€" and sadness â€" given West’s troubled history with mental illness. He’s been battling biopolar disorder throughout his career.

The image of West sitting in his car across from the Mavericks’ arena, suspended and teary-eyed, is especially poignant.

Thumbnail image courtesy Flickr, GAMEFACE-PHOTOS

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